Archive for April, 2010

The Acai Super Fruit from the Heart of the Amazon Now Available in the West

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Acai berries are South American fruits that are small, round, and only grow deep within the rainforests of the Amazon. Natives have long climbed the trees to harvest these delicate berries by hand. The fruit grows in clusters at the top of a species of palm tree, and are not unlike purple grapes in outward appearance.

The taste of the berries is a luscious combination of mixed berries and dark chocolate. The Acai berry is only about one inch in size, but has relatively little pulp because the seed of the fruit take up almost all of the interior space. For years the Caboclo peoples who live in the Brazilian Amazon have harvested the berries as food and enjoyed various health benefits as a result.

This one berry amazingly accounts for almost 50% of many natives’ dietary intake. The Acai has gained a reputation as being a miniature super fruit. This stems from the fact that it is capable of providing people with great levels of energy and promoting health and overall strength in those who consume it. Some people also believe that it helps to control weight. Native people consider these super berries to give users strong hearts, clear minds and long lives.

The Acai juice and pulp have been used in juice blends and other drinks throughout Peru and Brazil, but have only recently become available in Western countries. People in Brazil eat the fruit fresh but they also share the mashed fruit after it is mixed with tapioca, sugar, and honey. It can even be mixed with granola and added to ice cream. Numerous reports have been carried out in South America with results confirmed by others. These reports document the superior energy that people enjoy when they eat or drink something containing acai berries.

Acai berries contain a tremendous amount of healthy fats and it is for this reason that they are a very perishable food item. Western countries can enjoy Acai in yogurts, juices, or as energy health drinks. It is also available as a frozen fruit pulp or a freeze-dried powder in areas that are some distance from where the berry is harvested.

The fruit contains anthocyanins and resveratrol and studies have shown it to have several benefits to the human body. One of these benefits is that antioxidant levels in the bloodstream increase significantly within 2 hours of drinking a product containing Acai pulp or juice. This increase of antioxidants in the bloodstream heightens the body’s ability to fight free radicals that attack cells.

There are also ongoing studies that suggest that this fruit is good for the heart and blood circulation. Other studies are showing great promise that active ingredients in the berry may even be useful for fighting certain cancers.

For Australians and others who live and play at a fast pace, this fruit is able to provide energy whilst also providing other health benefits.

Increased energy levels and endurance is what many consumers are finding so wonderful about juice drinks that now contain Acai. People who live athletic life styles like swimmers, runners, and other outdoors lovers will find this energy-producing supplement gives them all the energy they need to enjoy their healthy, active lives.

The Acai Berry: A Health and Vitality Explosion from the Amazon

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

The fruit that has been taking the world by storm is the Acai berry which is really pronounced like (ah-sigh-ee).  You can find it in the South American Amazon rainforest where it sits high on top of palm trees.  The Acai is a small round berry that is blackish-purple in colour.  This delicious Brazilian berry tastes like a special blend of berries and chocolate.

The Amazon tribe’s people have had the pleasure of enjoying the Acai berry for many thousands of years.  It was used not only for medicinal purposes but it also had energy giving qualities as well.

These berries were handpicked by the Amazon tribe’s men.  They would simply climb up the palm trees and harvest the Acai berries from the tree’s top branches.  Now the world over, even as far away as Australia, are extolling the many health benefits of the Acai berries.  Many athletes and other high performing people use the Acai as their ‘secret weapon’ as they excel in their chosen activities.

The Acai berry is full of amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids.  These are all of vital importance in maintaining a healthy diet.  Here is some very good nutritional information that will tell you why the Acai berry is so good for us to eat:

This berry is full of amino acids and has more proteins than one egg. Its fatty acids are similar to the ones that are found in olive oil and it contains twice the number of antioxidants as blueberries and ten times that of grapes.

Acai berries contain over 16 phytonutrients and antioxidants, 30 times the amount of anthocyanins as found in red wine and pack in 44.2g of fibre per 100g of berry. On top of this acai berries have a low glycaemic and are high in macro and trace minerals and vitamins.

This berry has an amazing number of health benefits due to its nutritional makeup.  Berries are antibacterial, have antioxidant properties, are anti-mutagenic, act as an anti-inflammatory and are very good for the cardiovascular system.  The Acai berry works to lower levels of bad cholesterol that may be found in the blood while it maintains the levels of good cholesterol.  One of the main jobs of the Acai berry is to lower the levels of cholesterol in blood plasma.

The Acai berry is a rich source for anthocyanins which are very good for the blood vessels, eyes, nervous system and connective tissue.  The flavanoids in the Acai berry help protect your body against disease.  The berry seems to strengthen visual acuity in the eyes and helps prevent macular degeneration and glaucoma.

The Acai berry seems to help people who have sleep problems.  It helps provide a more natural sleep for the body.  The Acai berry has been used for many centuries to both cleanse and detoxify the body.

Wow! This little berry is a nutrient goldmine. You can either take the Acai berry in the form of capsules or you may drink the pureed pulp.  Either way, you are sure to feel the many benefits of this amazing berry as it works its wonders on you! Give it a go and see for yourself.

If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.